Finance job market rebounds with 60% surge in vacancies in a single quarter

After a cautious start to 2026, Belgium's labour market for finance and insurance professionals has regained momentum. According to data from JobsData, more than 18,000 vacancies were published across this domain during the second quarter of 2026. This represents a 60% increase compared with the first quarter of the year and marks the third-highest quarterly vacancy volume since the beginning of 2025.

Although vacancy numbers in Q2 remain around 35% below the same period last year, the figures suggest that employers are becoming more confident about investing in finance and insurance talent once again.

"After several quarters of cautious hiring, recruitment activity is clearly picking up again. Organisations are prioritising roles that strengthen financial control, reporting and risk management," says Asia Skifati, Director of Permanent & Interim Management Recruitment at global talent solutions specialist Robert Walters.

Controllers and accountants remain in high demand

The strongest growth was seen in controlling and specialist finance roles. Vacancies for Financial Controllers increased by an impressive 79% compared with the first quarter of 2026. Business Controllers (+63%), Accounts Receivable Accountants (+80%) and Insurance Claims Handlers (+79%) also recorded significant increases.

According to Asia, this comes as no surprise. "Many organisations postponed investment decisions over the past few months. Now that there is greater clarity, businesses are first looking to hire professionals who can provide better insight into performance, costs and risk. Controllers and specialist finance professionals play a critical role in achieving this."

Accountants continue to represent by far the largest professional group within finance, with more than 9,200 vacancies during the second quarter.

Flanders leads the recovery

Regionally, the strongest growth was recorded in Flanders. West Flanders saw vacancies rise by 95% compared with the first quarter, followed by East Flanders (+85%) and Antwerp (+62%). Together, these three provinces account for more than half of all finance and insurance vacancies in Belgium.

"Companies in Flanders appear to be resuming recruitment more quickly than those in other regions. We are seeing particularly strong demand from manufacturing businesses, logistics companies and SMEs looking to strengthen their finance teams to support future growth," explains Asia.

Opportunities for graduates are increasing

The recovery is not only benefiting experienced professionals. The number of entry-level vacancies almost doubled compared with the previous quarter. This increase is partly driven by a recurring seasonal trend, as many students graduate in June and organisations traditionally advertise more graduate opportunities during the second and third quarters to attract young talent entering the workforce.

However, Robert Walters also sees this as a positive sign for the wider labour market.

"The increase in graduate vacancies is certainly influenced by seasonal hiring patterns, but it also demonstrates that organisations are once again willing to invest in developing young talent and are looking beyond their immediate hiring needs," says Jens Spittael-Speeckaert, Director Temporary Recruitment at Robert Walters.

Demand for temporary professionals continues to grow

Alongside permanent hiring, demand for flexible talent is also increasing. The number of temporary assignments rose by 36% compared with the first quarter, while freelance opportunities also saw strong growth. According to Jens, organisations are currently seeking the right balance between flexibility and expertise.

"In a market that still feels uncertain, many employers prefer to bring in temporary or project-based expertise first. This allows organisations to respond quickly while avoiding long-term commitments."

Outlook

Although vacancy levels remain below those of last year, the second quarter appears to mark an important turning point for Belgium's finance labour market.

"The strong quarter-on-quarter growth shows that demand is returning. For professionals considering a career move, as well as employers looking to fill critical positions, now is the time to act. We expect demand for finance and insurance professionals to continue stabilising and gradually increase over the coming months," Asia concludes.